Elon Musk takes his hot new lobby firms out for a test drive. We offer our view about what UC should consider as it searches for a replacement for Linda P.B. Katehi. We tour of some Swing State editorial pages to get their takes on the presidential race. And check out the editorial about University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto. What a guy.

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Gov. Jerry Brown put his foot to the floor by embracing Assemblywoman Autumn Burke’s new bill, saying through his spokesman Gareth Lacy that he “has been strongly supportive of increasing the number of zero emission vehicles in California.”

“Assemblymember Burke’s bill will lead to more zero emission vehicles and more Californians able to purchase them – and that’s a smart investment in cleaner air,” Brown’s spokesman said in an email.

Global Automakers, which includes Toyota, Honda andNissan, among others, responded: “Tesla’s proposal is nothing more than a self-interested attempt to eliminate competition and consumer choice in the green vehicle market.” The Auto Alliance, which includes GM, Ford and others, won’t be far behind.

They all say they want to produce zero-emission vehicles. But putting it into statute would be so rigid. Speaking of green, plenty will be spread in the days ahead.

Take a number: 50

California’s ranks No. 50 in the administration of elections, according the Pew Charitable Trusts’ comprehensive Elections Performance Index. We are, however, ahead of Alabama, Foon Rhee says in the Numbers Crunch.

The Des Moines Register, Iowa-6: America is still a democracy. It’s not a Third World country in which would-be presidents and political opportunists can sway an election by inciting violence and encouraging lawless behavior. Not yet, anyway.

Parting take

Kudos to the Legislature for weighing in on the debate over whether sexually active gay men should be able to donate blood.

At the behest of Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, and Assembly Leader Chad Mayes, R-Yucca Valley, the Senate approved a resolution Thursday urging the Food and Drug Administration to adopt a donation policy based on risk, not an outdated, irrational fear of catching HIV.

Already, the FDA is reconsidering its policy, which has been in place since the early days of the AIDS epidemic. Much has changed since then, from our knowledge of the disease to the treatments for it, and so the Senate is right to push for a policy that’s not needlessly discriminatory. – Erika D. Smith,@Erika_D_Smith

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Rep. Mike Thompson is a gun owner, hunter, and Vietnam veteran, and he recalls how in simpler times, the NRA made its name by teaching kids about gun safety. The Napa Valley Democrat is, in short, ideally cast to lead congressional Democrats’ efforts to push for gun control measures, a role he fully embraced after the slaughter at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012.